Protective shield for beer-cases.



P. T. OLARK.

PROTEOTIVB SHIBLD FOR BEBR OASES.

APPLIOTION FILED .IUNE 26, 1912.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

z m i PETEB. T. CLABK, OF BOXBUBY, MASSACHUSETTS.

PBOTEGTIVE FOB BEER-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24,1912.

Application filed June 26, 1912. Serial No. 705316.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it kno n that 1, PETER T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Roxbury, county of Sufl`olk, State of Massa chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Protective Shields for Beer-Cases, of which the following description, in connection withthe -accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing repre-` senting like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of an inexpensive and eflicient proteetive shield for beer cases and the like, whereby the contents of the bottles in the case will be shielded from the rays of the sun during transportation.

The protective shield 'embodyin my invention also prevents the bottles om getting dusty when being carried about in delivery wagons, keeps them from rattling about and breaking when the case is handled, and in cold weather the shield will prevent the contents of the bottles from freezing, doing away with the expensive covered cases now used for the purpose.

In accordance with my invention the protective shield is made of thin and inexpensive opaque sheet material, such as stout Manila or other tough paper, of a suitable size to fit into the top of the case, having at its edges fiaps adapted to be attached to the inner walls of the case by glue or other suitable adhesive material.

The shield is provided with a series of apertures for the reception of the necks of the bottles, the apertures corresponding in number and location to the number and location of the bottles in a full case.

Each aperture is provided with a retaining lip which is pushed upward when the bottle neck is pushed through the aperture, the upturned lip resting against the neck and just below the so-called Ci-own" or other seal in common use. These lips thus act to prevent the shield from lifting ofl of the necks of the bottles and the latter are laterally supported and separated by the intrvening portions of the shield.

Only a short length of the neck of a bottle is exposed above the shield, and inasmuch as the apertures are but little larger than the necks the bodies of the bottles and the contents thereof are shielded from the rays of the sun, from dust and dirt, and

from the cold in Winter.

The usual framing or grid in the lower and substantially of the inte-or part of the case serves to keep the bottles separated near their lower ends, but the shield serves to laterally sustain and separate them at their upper ends, and thereby keeps them from rattling about in transit and from being broken when the cases are handled.

When the bottles are to be removed from the case the shield is broken or torn apart, the inexpensive character-of the shield enabling it to be destroyed after it has served its purpose.

Figur-e 1 is a longitudinal section of a beer case of usual Construction, with a protective shield applied thei-eto in accordance with my invention, the bottles being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is an underside plan view of a shield embodying my invention adaptcd to be applied to the usual two-dozen case of commerce; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in plan showing a part of the shield with one of the neck-receivng openings and'the retaining lip; Fig. 4: is an enlarged View of a portion of the shield in section, showing the retaining lip in use.

Referring to Fig. 1, the usual open case, adapted to contain twenty-four bottles, has endwalls 1, 1 provided with hand holes 2, bottom 3, side walls, as 4:, and the usual grd or grating 5 to separate the bottles 6 near their lower ends, the bottles being shown as provided with a well known form of metal seal 7.

In accordance with my invention, I make the protective shield 8 'of any suitable 1nexpensive and opaque sheet material, such as stout Manila paper, rectan ular n shape dmensions of the case, and preferably the shield has a flap 9 along each of its longer edges the undersides of the flaps being coated with mucilage or other suitable adhesivc. Similar flaps 10, but much shorter, are provided at the ends of the, shield, having an adhesve applied to their under surfaces, as shown in Fig. 2, there being two of the flaps 10 at each end. Between each pair of flaps s a longer flap 11 having adhesive material 12 thereon near its outer end.` e A Then the shield is applied to the case the adhesive material is moistened, and the flaps 9 are turned up along the dotted lines 14 and applied to the side walls &of the case, Fig. 1, while the flaps 10 are moistened, similarly upturned, and attached n like manner to the end walls '1. The flaps 711 level slightly .a and substantiall are passed through c'ne' hand holes 2' and downturned and attached by the adhesive.

. that the necks of the bottles will pass therethrough When the shield is' put in place, 'each aperture being substantally circular, wth a segmental lip 15 projeeting thereinto,

` thediameter of an aperture being slight-ly larger than the seal 7. 4

- When the shield is pressed down the sealed neck of the' bottle passes up through the aperture, and the 1ip 15 is upturned and lies against the neck below the overhanging edge 'of the seal, as shown in Fig. 4. This prevents the sheld from lifti'ng above the seal, and retains the latter in place embracingthe necks of'the bottles in the case, affording a lateral support for said bottles and preventing them from rattling or breaking when the case is handled. i

WVhile the protective shield is particularly adapted for use in connection with cases of beer it will be manifest that its useis not restricted thereto, as the shield can be.

' used with equal advantage with bottled goods of any character. Havin fully described my invention,

what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- i

1. The combination with a bottle case and agroup of battles upright therein, of a protective shield attached thereto within its open top and made of opaque sheet material having a series of apertures therein for the necks of the bot-tles to pass therethrough and be snugly .embraced, and means on the shield adjacent each aperture to be upturned and enga e the. under edge of the scaling cap of a ottle and .prevent lifting of the sheld adjacent the bottle.

2. The combination with a bot-tle case and a, group of bottles upright therein, of a protective shield attached thereto within its open top and made of tough, opaque paper having a series 'of substantially circular ap-.

ertures therein to receive and snugly embrace the necks of the bottles, and a flexble -segmental lip extended into each aperture and adapted to be upturned against the bot 'tle neck below the sealing cap when the shield is a'pplied, said lips engaging the lower edges of the caps and serving to retain* the shield in place around the neck of the bottles.

3.) As an article of man'ufacture, a protective shield for bottle cases, composed of. 'tugh opaque. paper having substantially circularapert-ures for thereception of and to fit snugly around the necks 'of the bottles,

flexible segmental devices on the 'shield to be bent up against the bottle necks and to cooperate with the scaling caps of the battles to 'retain .the shield in place, and means on the shield for attachment thereof to the` walls of the bottle case.

In-testimony whereof, I have esigned my name to this specification, in the 'presence of 'two subscribing witnesses.

, PETER T. CLARK.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. Enwanns, THOMAS- J. DRUMMOND. 

